Figure skatingCanadian figure skaters preparing for big season

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The excitement in the air was palpable this past week as Canada's top skaters descended on the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ont., for Skate Canada's high performance camp.

Over the course of the two days, the skaters are required to perform their competitive programs for the upcoming season as well as undergo medical testing, not to mention be available to speak to the media.

For some, like ice dancers and junior world silver medallists, Alexandra Paul and Mitchell Islam, it's like finally arriving on the big stage. For others like Andrew Poje, who along with partner Kaitlyn Weaver took the 2010 Four Continents ice dance title: "It means the season's coming fast. It's great to get our programs out in front of people who matter and see where we're at."

William Thompson, Skate Canada's CEO, says the purpose of the camp has not always had the same objective.

"For the last four years, it was all about Olympic Games preparation and helping the athletes get comfortable in Vancouver, and this year's focus is more about the technical changes and making sure that the athletes are on top of the rules."

To that end, Skate Canada invites officials to come and view the skaters' programs and then offer feedback.

This is in order to catch any problems before the skaters begin their competitive seasons, giving them enough time to be able to make changes if necessary.

"By bringing together the best team, we minimize the risk," said Thompson. "Ask yourself if [Olympic and world champions Tessa] Virtue and [Scott] Moir, for instance, had gone out last year in their first Grand Prix and had done incorrect elements. It could have thrown their whole season and they would have been playing catch up from the very start."

Rule changes

This year's camp is of particular importance as the rules have changed dramatically in ice dance, which has gone from three competition segments to two.

The creation of a short dance - incorporating a sequence of the Golden Waltz compulsory dance for the senior level, with additional required elements - is brand new.

"It's an interesting concept and a step in the right direction," said Moir. "At least we are down to two [competition] segments which gives us more time to work on each program. I am not sure yet that putting the compulsory dance in the short dance is the answer, but we'll see. The trick seems to be in not making the Golden Waltz, the Golden Waltz. So far I really like it and I really like our short dance."

Quad factory

Watching the men practice, it seemed to be a veritable quad and Triple Axel factory.

Of the four men invited - Patrick Chan, Kevin Reynolds, Jeremy Ten and Shawn Sawyer - all were showing great improvement in speed and have upped their technical ante.

Of particular note was the beautiful quad toe of Chan's and the two quads in Reynolds' short program.

"It's a reunion and I get to be with all of my friends," said Chan, who is taking part of his fifth camp. "My favourite thing is being able to show how you've changed from the year before. I want to be able to blow people's socks off."

Look for Chan and the rest of Canada's figure skaters to compete in the ISU Grand Prix series starting Oct. 22 in Nagoya, Japan.

Photo 1: Ice dancers Tessa Virtue, foreground, and Scott Moir. (Gerard Chataigneau/CBC)

Photo 2: Top men's figure skater Patrick Chan. (Gerard Chataigneau/CBC)

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